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In this groundbreaking book, the bestselling author of "No Logo" exposes the gripping story of how America's 'free market' policies have come to dominate the world - through the exploitation of disaster-shocked people and countries. At the most chaotic juncture in Iraq's civil war, a new law is unveiled that would allow Shell and BP to claim the ...Read MoreIn this groundbreaking book, the bestselling author of "No Logo" exposes the gripping story of how America's 'free market' policies have come to dominate the world - through the exploitation of disaster-shocked people and countries. At the most chaotic juncture in Iraq's civil war, a new law is unveiled that would allow Shell and BP to claim the country's vast oil reserves. Immediately following September 11, the Bush Administration quietly out-sources the running of the 'War on Terror' to Halliburton and Blackwater. After a powerful tsunami devastates the coasts of Southeast Asia, the pristine beaches are auctioned off to tourist resorts. New Orleans' residents, still scattered from Hurricane Katrina, discover that their public housing, hospitals and schools will never be reopened.These events are examples of what Naomi Klein calls 'the shock doctrine': the use of public disorientation following massive collective shocks - wars, terrorist attacks, natural disasters - to push through unpopular economic measures often called 'shock therapy'. Sometimes, when the first two shocks don't succeed in wiping out all resistance, a third is employed: that of the electrode in the prison cell or of the Taser gun. Based on breakthrough historical research and four years of on-the-ground reporting in disaster zones, "The Shock Doctrine" explodes the myth that the global free market triumphed democratically. Disaster capitalism - the rapid-fire corporate reengineering of societies that are reeling from shock - did not begin with September 11, 2001.Klein traces its intellectual origins back fifty years to the University of Chicago's economics department under Milton Friedman, whose influence is still felt around the world. She draws new and surprising connections between economic policy, 'shock and awe' warfare and covert CIA-funded experiments in electroshock and sensory deprivation in the 1950s; research that helped write the torture manuals used today in Guantanamo Bay. As Klein shows how the deliberate use of the shock doctrine produced world-changing events from Pinochet's coup in Chile in 1973 to the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, she tells a story radically different from the one usually heard. Once again Naomi Klein has written a book that will reframe the debate.Read Less

New. 0312427999 The neo-liberal economic policies? privatization, free trade, slashed social spending? that the Chicago School and the economist Milton Friedman have foisted on the world are catastrophic in two senses, argues this vigorous polemic. Because their results are disastrous? depressions, mass poverty, private corporations looting public wealth, by the author's accounting? their means must be cataclysmic, dependent on political upheavals and natural disasters as coercive pretexts for free-market reforms the public would normally reject. Journalist Klein (No Logo) chronicles decades of such disasters, including the Chicago School makeovers launched by South American coups; the corrupt sale of Russia's state economy to oligarchs following the collapse of the Soviet Union; the privatization of New Orleans's public schools after Katrina; and the seizure of wrecked fishing villages by resort developers after the Asian tsunami. Klein's economic and political analyses are not always meticulous. Likening free-market shock therapies to electroshock torture, she conflates every misdeed of right-wing dictatorships with their economic programs and paints a too simplistic picture of the Iraq conflict as a struggle over American-imposed neo-liberalism. Still, much of her critique hits home, as she demonstrates how free-market ideologues welcome, and provoke, the collapse of other people's economies. The result is a powerful populist indictment of economic orthodoxy.

Customer Reviews

Capitalism run amock

Canadian Naomi Klein opens one's eyes to the consequences of Milton Freedman's idea of Capitalism, i.e., unfettered world-wide free trade, plus privatization of almost all government functions, including much of the military, thereby leaving corporations as the real power behind government. Capitalism without a social conscience with respect to the worker bees, who work for slave wages, while the greedy ueber-rich get richer and richer. Prepare to be shocked by this excellently detailed history of Capitalism from the 1950's to the present.

Rita V

Feb 6, 2012

Understanding Today's World

The book "The Shock Doctrine" is the best account I have seen which explains the policy and developments that brought us to the state we find ourselves in today. It outlines the influence that the economic doctrine of Milton Friedman of the Chicago School has had on the growth of privatization, deregulation, and unfettered wealth of corporations at the expense of ordinary citizens, indigenous peoples, and the working class. The book traces developments starting in Chile in the 1970s and continuing through such widespread areas as Latin America, the Far East, Eastern Europe, and the United States (e.g., New Orleans after Katrina).
The Shock Doctrinet is greatly detailed and well researched. For me the content is understandable without much economic background. I have found it invaluable in interpreting current events and trends (even though it was published in 2007) and wish the author would publish a "sequel" to include developments since the book was first published.
I have recommended this book to a number of people and, as a matter of fact, bought this copy to give to a friend. It's well worth the time and effort to peruse this work!

juniper1pinon

Oct 14, 2011

The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalim

If someone wants a view of the US govt and others involvement both locally and internationally to maniuplate populations and plan for world wide domination, this is an excellent foundation to which one could expand in many directions. While written on a complex and historic level, this book is an incredible read that walks the reader through sound, researched beginnings into current day events.

The players are listed and parts they played. In today's political and business climate, if you've followed along at all, this will help the piece fall together. Though, being open minded is helpful, the credibility of resources is very strong. Try it. Strenghten your own resolve.

Magicats

Jan 28, 2010

The most important book you'll ever read

In The Shock Doctrine, Naomi Klein clearly and persuasively explains so much of what was always confounding, frustrating, and downright inexplicable, especially the reasons the U.S. almost always pursues immoral, unjust, and counterproductive foreign policies. Once you've mastered the principles Klein sets forth, the workings of the world are relatively simple to understand and predict. Buy several copies of this book, as you'll want to give it to the people who matter most in your life. No one who reads this book will ever look at the world the same way again.

billy101

Jan 15, 2010

Good book but......

I have expected much more from this book, I didn't finished yet to read it, and I don't think I will.
In my opinion is not very objective, seems to have a tendency against the capitalism for itself, and not for the real problems it brought. People and not the capitalism is the problem.
Even though is always good to read something different.....

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